When Ridhyan was born, his parents Anita and Mayal were concerned about the way his feet had formed. He was diagnosed with club feet, which means the muscles and bones in his feet point down and turn inward instead of pointing straight. This twisting causes the toes to point toward the opposite leg, resulting in pain and difficulty walking.
“Initially it was very stressful because I haven't seen a child born with club feet in my family,” says Mayal. “So in the beginning it was very hectic, very painful. When he was born, we didn't have any idea, we didn't have any clue where to go. Then we took him to a couple of doctors in my hometown, but they did not get the proper treatment for him.”
The family found a child orthopaedic surgeon in New Delhi who performed a surgery; it helped, but didn’t fully correct the problem and Anita and Mayal were left to worry if their son would ever get the care he needed.
In 2022, the family left India and moved to Canada. After finding a home in Surrey, they took Ridhyan to another specialist who said Ridhyan needed to wear ankle foot orthotics (AFOs) as part of treatment. But the orthotics cost nearly $5,000. On the suggestion of the doctor, Mayal and Anita applied to Variety – The Children’s Charity of BC, which supports kids with disabilities and complex health needs, to help fund the equipment.
Mayal says he’s overwhelmed by Variety’s support. “Variety plays a key role for Ridhyan’s treatment, for his betterment of life,” he says. “All those special treatments are very expensive. Variety has funded my son's AFOs twice. So I'm really thankful. There's a big financial relief for families like mine, who could not afford that expensive treatment.”
Many of the families Variety supports experience similar stressors and financial pressures. The average income for families who apply is just over $40,000 a year. In many cases, one parent needs to stay home to care for their child; and single mothers have even fewer options.
Behind each of these stories are dedicated parents who continually find creative ways for their kids to thrive. Yet circumstances can make it incredibly difficult to access essential supports, which is why every Variety grant fills a gap in healthcare or private insurance plans, helping families get the best care for their children.
Ridhyan, who’s now six years old, wears his orthotics at least 16 hours each day. And they are beginning to pay off. He can now walk normally, and his feet are pointing in the right direction.
Ridhyan likes playing soccer and wants to be able to play on a team. “He's still wearing the AFOs, so it’s quite challenging for him,” says Mayal. “So we haven’t put him in soccer yet because of his condition. But one day, hopefully. I'm trying pretty much whatever I can do for him. He’s all I have. He is going to have a bright future.”
Tune in to Variety’s annual Show of Hearts on Global BC on Feb. 23 to learn more about Variety’s impact on families in Metro Vancouver and across B.C.
